Despite being a small island, Sri Lanka has a tremendous amount of history, spanning back more than thousands of years. During the colonial times where Sri Lanka was occupied by various European entities, the island developed a unique identity to the amalgamation of various architectural works that were relative to the many European cultures who respectively occupied the island. Of all the buildings that exist, the Old Parliamentary Complex is particularly striking and beautiful, and is located in the Colombo Fort area alongside many establishments such as Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo one of the many popular hotels in Colombo.
The building has a distinctive Neo-Baroque style and was built during the British colonial times. The brainchild behind the building was Sir Henry McCallum, who gained a proposal from the committee to construct a building for the Secretariat. Construction was completed sometime in 1930 and shortly afterwards held the State Council of Ceylon.
During 1947, the House of Representatives was formed, replacing the State Council as the entity housing the striking building. In 1972, there was a name change done and the House of Representatives became the Parliament of Sri Lanka. Almost a decade afterwards the Parliament relocated to a more recently constructed building in Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte. Following this move, the Old Parliamentary Complex was taken over by the Presidential Secretariat.
The complex has been well maintained, and the sight of it amidst the modern buildings of Colombo is incredibly fascinating given the stark contrast in architectural influence. It is also situated right next to the Galle face beach, a remarkable setting for a building so beautiful. The grounds outside the complex features bronze statues of some prominent figures in Sri Lankan history, including various Prime Ministers of Sri Lanka.
If you’re ever in this incredible island, be sure to visit the distinguished Old Parliamentary Building of Colombo.
Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+
